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Running Product News -
Running Shoe News
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I managed to get out on a new pair of Avia Avi-Stoltz trail shoes. My first impressions are generally good with some concerns that I'll pay close attention to in future runs. First, the good stuff...The tread on these shoes is pretty aggressive. I was able to run in these shoes on a variety of surfaces: pavement, hard-packed trail, sharp rocks, slippery roots, and slimy mud. (Yes, all that in one run.) In all situations, the traction was good. The shoes channeled and shed the mud, and traction was pretty good on all other surfaces. I did feel the sharp rocks, but given these rocks, that is what I would expect. Only boots would protect ones feet from these rocks. I also found the stability to be solid, which is important on a trail where the surface can be loose or hidden. The shoes provided plenty of room (perhaps too much) for my wide, flat forefeet. At 12.2 oz. for a size 11 shoe, these are not light shoes, but then they aren't overly heavy either. Now for the concerns. While running on the short stretch of pavement that takes me too the woods, I found myself wishing these shoes had more forefoot cushioning. This from somebody who generally leans towards ultralight shoes. Perhaps I just need to break them in a little more or give them more time. Finally, these shoes are also downright ugly, but then that really shouldn't matter. I'll update this review once I get some more miles on them. Ed |
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Running Product News -
Running Shoe News
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I received a pair of Brooks Ghost 2s a few days ago. I've long been a fan of Brooks running shoes, so maybe I have some bias, but if I am biased it is because I've run on dozens of pairs of Brooks over 20+ years and almost always been happy with the shoes. My first impression of the Ghost 2s is a very positive one. I'll need to spend some more miles in them to draw any firm conclusion, but they are very comfortable. That was my first impression when I put them on, "wow, these shoes are comfortable". This from somebody who spends his whole day in running shoes, so it wasn't as if I just pulled of some uncomfortable pair of tight, leather business shoes. Much of that comfort comes from the fit, so its likely that if your foot isn't shaped like mine, you won't find it as comfortable as I do. Still, the Brooks last is fairly accommodating. Brooks doesn't call it a "Universal Platform" for nothing. The Ghost 2s are very flexible, both in the forefoot, and laterally. This means that this shoe isn't going to provide you with any support: over-pronators, stay away. Runners with a neutral stride, will find this shoe appropriate. The shoes weigh in at 11.7 oz. each for my size 11 shoes. They aren't light shoes, but that weight is typical of other shoes in this category. I'll spend a few more weeks in these shoes and report back. In the meantime, I think Brooks has another winner. Ed |
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I have long been a fan of the Garmin Forerunner 305. I got one back in 2006 and have used it steadily since then. It is a great tool for both the runner and triathlete. There was no better device for monitoring your workout and for keeping track of your training history. (See the recent article on RunningAhead.com's ability to upload Garmin data.) That may no longer be true. Garmin has recently released an upgrade to the Forerunner 305: the Forerunner 310XT. On paper, this new GPS unit offers some serious advantages over the 305. For those with limited attention spans, here is a list of features: |
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Running Product News -
Running Shoe News
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I always get nervous when I hear that a favorite shoe is going to be upgraded, so you can imagine my apprehension when Brooks announced that their fabled T5 Racer was being replaced by the T6 Racer. Fortunately, I had little to fear. The T6 Racer is, without doubt, the better shoe...mostly because Brooks made only minor changes and only to the upper. The sole, the heart of this shoe, is essentially unchanged. Read More... |
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Running Ahead has always had one of the best free training logs available, but recently they added some new features that make it even better. First, a few month ago, they made it much more multi-sport friendly. You can now customize your summary page to include all kinds of summary stats and graphs. For example, in the left column of my summary page I have weekly bike and run statistics. The weekly statistics displays the most recent 6 weeks of data. In the middle column I display monthly statistics, also for the past six months. Finally, in the right column, I display 7 and 30 day rolling totals as well as year-to-date and all-time totals. You can also add graphs and calendars to your summary page. Of course, the RunningAhead log already had the most user friendly interface for adding runs, shoes, and courses to your log. The google maps feature is particularly slick. I know plenty of sites have mapping as part of their log, but Running Ahead's interface is easier and faster than most. Their newest feature is an integration with the Garmin Forerunner. I tried using this lately and it is pretty easy to set up...even on a Mac! I do wish I could add the course name, equipment used (my shoes), weight and other data when reviewing the uploaded data rather than going back in and editing these records later, but that is a small price to pay for an otherwise slick tool. Ed |
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